Ammunition box



C. T. DIAPER AMMUNITION Box May 17, 1949.

Filed Sept. 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 17, '1949 AMMUNITIONBOX Cecil Thomas Diaper, Bristol, England, assignor to The BristolAeroplane Company Limited, Bristol, England,.a British companyApplication September 17, 1945, Serial No. 616,833 In Great BritainSeptember 27, 1944 1 Claim.

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to ammunition boxeswhich are adapted for use in association'with machine guns.

The invention relates to ammunition boxes of the kind which are adaptedto receive ammunitionk in the form of a belt that is stored in the boxin super'posed layers. When ammunition in the form of a plurality ofrounds is secured together by a series of clips to form a belt, theclips enable the belt to have a longitudinal flexibility and in certaincases a lateral flexibility also. The former enables the belt ofammunition to be folded backwards and forwards along the length of theammunition box in the superposed layers referred to. The lateralflexibility enables the belt to be twisted along its length so that theedges thereof generally describe a helical path.

When the lateral flexibility of a belt reaches a certain value it isfound that the ammunition in the box has a tendency to become displacedfrom the layers in which it has been stored and owing to the diameter ofthe projectile being less than that of the cartridge-case, the roundsbecome interlocked. As a consequence it is common to find that it isimpossible to withdraw the ammunition belt from the box and the machinegun therefore stops. Y

An object of the present invention is to provide an ammunition box whichwill ensure that with ammunition belts of considerable lateralflexibility the belt is maintained in the superposed layers as stored.

According to the present invention an ammunition box of the kindhereinbefore set forth comprises means which in one ,position is capableof supporting one or more layers of the ammunition belt along at leastone edge thereof, said means being displaceable from said supportingposition to facilitate the withdrawal ofthe ammunition belt locatedbeneath the layers thereof which said means supports. The displacementof the supporting means is preferably effected by the withdrawal of thelayers beneath it.

Said means may comprise a shelf hingeably secured to a wall of theammunition box, said shelf being adapted to project from said wall tosupport the rounds of ammunition and being adapted to be folded againstsaid wall by the withdrawal of the layers of ammunition belt locatedbeneath said shelf` It is preferred that a plurality of shelves beprovided one above the other on said wall, each such shelf being adaptedto support two layers of the ammunition belt.

A specic embodiment of the present invention now follows by way ofexample, the embodiment being described with reference to theaccompanying drawing whereof z Figure 1 is a side elevation of anammunition box, ya portion beingbroken away to show the interiorarrangement, and

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figurel 1.

The ammunition box which is generally indicated by the reference numeral5 is of a size to accommodate a considerable vnumber of layers of anammunition belt 6 by folding the latter backwards and forwards along thelength of the arnmunition box. The box shown in Figure 1 is adapted toprovide accommodation for twelve such layers of the ammunition belt. Forthe sake of clarity, the ammunition belt t is not shown in detail inFigure l-the upper `portion of the belt is diagrammatically representedwhilst the l-ower portion of the belt is represented by a chain dottedline 6a, this being the line upon which the centres of the rounds ofammunition are disposed. The belt 6 is withdrawn at the top oi the box.which is provided with a hinged lid I to permit access to the interiorthereof for the purpose yof loading it with the ammunition belt and forinspection of the ammunition already therein. The ammunition on leavingthe box passes through 'a channel formed by a hood 8 which is attachedto the side walls of the box. The hood 8 houses an antifricton roller 9over which the ammunition belt is drawn as it leaves the box.

In storing the ammunition in the box as described the rounds ofammunition l) are disposed transversely to the length of the box so thatthe bases Illa thereof lie adjacent the side wall II of the box and theprojectiles Ib lie adjacent the side wall I2 .of the box. It has beenfound that if the lateral flexibility of the ammunition belt isconsiderable, the projectiles of the upper layers of ammunition belt ina box have a tendency to enter between the projectiles in the lowerlayers and as a consequence the belt becomes jammed and cannot bewithdrawn from the ammunition box.

To prevent this occurring the invention provides a plurality of hingedshelves (generally indicated by the reference numeral I3) on the innerface of the side wall I2. Each hinged shelf I3 comprises an attachmentflap I4 which is riveted or otherwise secured as at I5 to the wall I2, afolding flap I6 which is capable of being moved from a position in whichit lies at against the side wall I2 to a position in which it projectsinwardly from the latter at right-angles thereto and a hinge joint I1which connects the aps I4 and I6 together. Each shelf is adapted tosupportl two layers of the ammunition belt the arrangement being thatthe projectiles of the lower layer associated with each shelf rests uponthe latter while the upper layer rests upon the lower-layer: It hasbeenfoundthat with this arrangementlthe weightof a singlellayerroffa-m-r`munition is insufficient to press the projectiles thereof between theprojectiles of the lower layer:l so as to produce jamming of theammunition as above described.

It is desirable that whentl1efolding.ap I6i of each shelf I3 isfoldedagainst thefsidef wall- I2 the latter should possess asubstantiallyzsnfmotlrlA ,y

surface. To this end the wallu I2.is ,formed with a plurality ofrecesses I8 each of 'which isadapted to receive the hinge joint I'I of ashelf'I3L' As is shown in Figure 2 when the ap I6 is folded `upl wardlyso as to lie at: against the side wall I2 obstruction is placed in.theypath ,of the ammunitionvbelt as it isrwithdrawnfrom the ammufnition box5.

Prior; tof-storing the ammunition belt in the box -fthe flap'IE ofeachshelfL I3 is moved upwardly so that it lies fiat against the` side wallI2Ifasidescribedt. A layer` of, ammunition belt is then placed along thebottom of the box 5; and theebelt' is Vfolded overand another layerplaced thereonAseeFigure 41) The'ap; I6 ofy the-lowest shel-tlisthen`moveddownwardly so that it projectsefrom the wallfIZ of. the boxf(Figure 2) and another two-*layers Aof: ammunition are placed inthebox; irma.4 similar mannerto that described. Theftammunitiorr belt isstored in this fashion until theebox isfullwhereupon the topmost layerof;.the beltiis passed through the hood 8-. over the roller-9, to theexit from the box.` Thelidfl isfthen placed. in position and the` box isready forfuse. In,.order tov enable the ammunition belt timbau foldedaround the end of each alternate shelf .the flapA I6 ofthe shelves stopsshorta little way from the end of the box as shown in Figure 1.

Irnuses the two .layers of theA belt which are supported by the: topmostshelf are `rst withdrawn'. Thereafter` Vthe layer-next beneathsaid shelfiszwithdrawn fromy the box vand: during: this operation the projectilesIwill engagev with the under-surface of the ap IIiA of the .topmost shelfItand asta consequence said-.apwill be folded upwardly against the. wallI2. Asshown- -in Fig-` ures 1 and 2 theaps I6 of the twoupper shelvesh`a,.vebeenlfoldedv against the wall I2 bythe amnrunition` belt as. ithas been withdrawn from the.box.` When the `ammunition belt is furtherwithdrawn so4 that the belt extendsfrom the hood rtothefupper layerwhich restsupon the second shelf from--thebottom of `.the=boxtheprojectiles wlllhbe,` brought into engagement with the under face-pf theflap. I6 of the central shelf in the ammunition box. The. flap of thisshelfVA will' be folded against the wall l2 with further removal of theammunition belt from the box. It is clear, therefore, that each shelf issimilarly treated by the layer of the belt immediately beneath it andthat the flaps I 6 are folded in succession against the wall I2commencing with the topmost ap. In this way tha aps I 61ying; aboveethe'ammunition. yet to be. used formslnoibarrier tolthe withdrawal thereof.

It is arranged that the folding naps are readily capable of being movedupwardly against the wall I2 by the withdrawal of the ammunition belt asdescribed, but that i the frictional engagement of .thezfiap `at `thehinge joint I1 is such as to render.iirimpossible-v for the flaps tofall downwardly into the proj ecting, position once it has been foldedagainst-the.sidewall'of the box. The hinge construction for the shelvesis such that the latter areuprevented by a stop from moving downwardlybeyond the position at .which they project in a normal` direction` fromA`the ,wall .I 2;

Inl. the construction` of ammuntion`- boxp de.. scribed above. the:folding `flaps I5 vprojectsirom the wall l2nby, arelatively small.amount, being sufficient to ensnare` that the projectiles -willf engage`therewith.r In certain. circumstances it be foundanadvantage to,providefor the flapsf to extend from thefwall` I 2 .byI aconsiderable l amountOrr-even to extend from thewall.V I 2. almost .tothe wall` II oftheammunition` box. Furthermore, althoughthefshelves., |31 have, beenprovided, in the, construction described tof `support only theprojectiles of the ammunition belt, shelves may alsobe-providedonthewall I I ofthe box t.sup, porty theY base of the ammunition .rounds..

I claim;

An ammunition box` for belted..` ammunition comprising` a casing toreceive the ammunition belt in.,sup erposed. layers, a plurality of`shelves spacedwone above the other within the. casing, hingemeanssecuring each, shelf Ito the wallof the casingftowardswhichtheprojectiles point and.

extending along said wall', and means to prevent movement of .each shelfin adireotion such that it supports.. one uor more layers of belt.whilst per-v mitting freedom for the shelf to be .displaced in theopposite direction by the withdrawing ammu'- nition belt to a positionagainst `saidwall;f

CECIL THOMASDIAPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oil-recordl inthe le o?thisfpatent:

UNITED "STATES PATENTS Number Name` Date 4 659,659. GrarlandV Oct.` 16,19,00 807,790` Taylor Dec; 19, 1905 2,110,160 Larsson` Mar.` 8, 19382,382,715; Hertel Aug..14, 1945

